So very sad. Way too many young people now dying from this disease. We need cures for all cancers.
The survival rate for colorectal cancer is pretty good....if caught early. If caught late, the survival rate drops so much. Not enough people get screened because a colonoscopy isn't a great time. I turn 45 this year and will definitely be getting one! A colonoscopy is better than cancer. My husband is lower risk so he just did the stool test (this year at age 47.) His results were fine and no followup required. But he will likely get a colonoscopy in a year or two, just to play it safe.
I read this on the Unbiased Science Podcast page...
The rise in CRC among younger adults is part of a trend worth understanding. An American Cancer Society analysis published in JAMA three weeks ago found that CRC is now the #1 cause of cancer death in Americans under 50. It’s the only one of the top cancer killers in this age group where deaths are still climbing. About 1 in 5 diagnoses now happens in someone under 55, roughly double the share from 1995.
Why this is happening is still an active area of research. Rising obesity, sedentary time, and dietary shifts likely play a role, but researchers say these don’t explain the full picture. In some series, roughly 1 in 5 early-onset cases are linked to a hereditary syndrome. For the majority, we don’t have a clear answer yet.
I know a lot of people are seeing this news and panicking. It’s terrible, and it can trigger real health anxiety. But there are concrete things you can do.
The American Institute for Cancer Research estimates about half of CRC cases could be prevented through lifestyle changes. Here’s where the evidence is strongest:
Eat more fiber from whole food sources — whole grains, beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables. This is one of the most consistent findings in the CRC literature. Fiber supplements haven’t consistently shown the same protective signal.
Move your body. Regular physical activity is associated with roughly 20–25% lower risk — one of the strongest protective factors we have.
Maintain a healthy weight.
On things to limit: there is no safe level of smoking or alcohol when it comes to cancer risk. Regular consumption of processed and red meat is associated with increased risk, with a stronger signal for processed meat. But we’re talking about habitual daily intake, not the occasional side of bacon or ham-and-cheese sandwich. The dose and the pattern matter.
SCREENING is the most important thing you can do.
The recommended age to start is now 45 — and many eligible people in the 45–49 age group remain unscreened. Colonoscopy is the gold standard because it can prevent cancer by finding and removing precancerous polyps before they become malignant. Stool-based tests like FIT are other screening tools for average-risk people tha your clinician might recommend. The best screening test is the one you actually do. (A positive stool test does require follow-up colonoscopy.)
Five-year survival caught early: ~90%.
Caught late: ~14%. That gap is everything.
If you’re at higher risk (i.e., family history, personal history of polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or a known hereditary syndrome) screening should start earlier. Talk to your clinician.
For those not yet eligible for screening: know the red flags. Four symptoms can show up months to years before diagnosis in younger adults: abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, persistent diarrhea, and iron deficiency anemia. These are usually caused by something else. But if they persist, push for answers.
Lastly, when a public figure dies of cancer, the wellness industry moves fast. No supplement or at-home “gut test” replaces a colonoscopy. No detox tea screens your colon. Get your nutrients from food, and get your screening on schedule!
